Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy
Montepulciano is a medieval Renaissance village situated about 30 km southwest of Cortona, with many small shops and a very peaceful atmosphere. It is located on a hill overlooking the wonderful Tuscan countryside. The town is surrounded by numerous fortifications and walls. The center of Montepulciano, which is located on the highest point of the town, is the Piazza Grande. There you can find a lot of interesting buildings, including the sixteenth-century cathedral. Montepulciano is also famous for the wine Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.
Parking in Montepulciano
You can park the car near the gate Porta al Prato leading to the old town (1; GPS: 43.097976, 11.785058), or a little farther, in the parking lot at Via Elio Bernabei (2; GPS: 43.098695, 11.789974). Since the previously mentioned parking is often busy, we chose the latter, and then walked down the street Via Elio Bernabei about 500 meters to Porta al Prato. During the tourist season it is worth remembering that there is also a third farthest parking lot (3; GPS: 43.099350, 11.793350) - a distance from it to Porta al Prato is approximately 800 meters.
The Old Town
As we mentioned, we enter the Old Town through the gate Porta al Prato. Then we head towards the main town square - Piazza Grande. We walk quite a long street Via di Voltaia Nel Corso, where we can see interesting buildings. On our way we pass the Palazzo Bucelli with Etruscan and Latin inscriptions (B; GPS: 43.095887, 11.784590). Next, on the left side we find one of the symbols of the town - an interesting clock tower Torre di Pulcinella (GPS: 43.095577, 11.783872), which belongs to one of the most beautiful towers in Italy. At the top of the tower there is a character of Pulcinella, the Neapolitan clown that is derived from the classic seventeenth-century commedia dell'arte. On the right side we can see the church of Sant'Agostino of the thirteenth century (GPS: 43.095708, 11.783757). Going further, we pass another interesting building: Palazzo Cervini (E; GPS: 43.094521, 11.782229).
After about 600 meters we are on the Piazza Grande (GPS: 43.092745, 11.781035). This is a place where the life of tourists and the inhabitants is focused. There are some interesting buildings: the Palazzo Comunale - the palace of the fifteenth century, now the seat of the municipal government; the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta of the sixteenth century; other palaces like Palazzo Capitano del Popolo (palace of the president) and Palazzo Nobili Tarugia, and in front of them interesting well Pozzo dei Grifi e dei Leoni (well of griffins and lions). Palaces and the well were designed by Antonio da Sangallo the Elder.
In short: to see/visit
- the gate Porta al Prato,
- Torre dell'Orologio (Torre di Pulcinella),
- the church Sant'Agostino,
- Palazzo Bucelli with Etruscan and Latin inscriptions,
- Piazza Grande,
- Palazzo Comunale,
- Palazzo Nobili Tarugi,
- Palazzo Capitano del Popolo,
- the cathedral Santa Maria Assunta,
- the church Santa Lucia,
- the sanctuary of Madonna di San Biagio (outside town's borders),
- Fortezza Medicea,
- Teatro Poliziano,
- Palazzo Neri-Orselli.
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